Spring cleaning

Society6
System purge and flush.  This week I have been participating in a metabolic/insulin cleanse, a kind of reset / spring cleaning for my body, particularly after the rough time it had in February.  The past few days (and next few days) are all about protein and green vegetables and no carbs or sugar.  Those of you who know me know that I don’t typically eat badly - my diet (I also hate the word “diet”) during the week is mainly vegan.  I can’t remember the last time I ate a hamburger or slice of pizza and I promise I’m not even sad about it (and the last time I had fully loaded nachos was only three weeks ago so there’s also that).  Since my parents have been vegetarian ever since we were young children, eating this much pure protein, with very little added fat in the rest of my diet, is a new experience for me and befuddling for my body.

The cleanse in and of itself is not a difficult one as there is no quantity limitation.  If one prepared all allowed food in advance, it could be very straight forward and easy to stick to.  The trick, as with it is in life, is to avoid opportunities for slipping up.  At home, I’m in a controlled environment.  There are no random French baguettes or almond croissants lying around, beckoning me with their flakiness.  All of the rogue Swedish fish have been disposed of properly.  However, in the office, temptation lies around every corner.  It’s painful to visit sites like tastespotting.com or foodgawker.com, which I usually frequent daily for recipe ideas.  Glass cut bowls of dark chocolate and clementines are perched on the admin’s desk.  Brownies and cookies and potato chips (let’s not even talk about the pasta) were catered in for lunch today.  I have even successfully avoided alcohol during a happy hour this week - it’s like I don’t even know myself anymore.

So far, the biggest surprise of this cleanse was how irrationally angry I felt, especially during the first few days.  Lack of carbs and fat made me extremely irritable and impatient with the entire world, whilst at work, driving, and even casual conversations with people.  Of course once you let people know that you’re on a cleanse, they understand the change in mood, nod their heads understandably, and give you their own rendition of a similar experience.  It’s as though the cleanse is of negative feelings instead of the toxins in your body - they all just need to get out.

I’ve been able to add fats to my diet and feel so much better about it.  And when you add in the eggs and bacon and turkey meatloaf that JR has cooked, I quite feel like I’m eating regularly again.  But if a stranger on the street offered me a loaf of bread right now, I think I would gladly jump into their unmarked, windowless van.


Comments

  1. I'm so proud! Having eaten nearly a whole loaf of soda bread this week . . . by myself . . . I can safely say I would not last long on a cleanse.

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  2. Oh wow. You sound a little like my teen when he's been away from food for say, about 30 minutes. There's a cookbook we have called "Mad Hungry, Feeding Men and Boys," and Neel loves the title because he says he remembers getting so hungry (like 15 minutes from his last meal) that he got angry from it.

    Cleanses are hard for me because of the headache factor. I just can't build in time for pain like that to be part of my life and if I don't eat regularly I get headachey. Small turns to full blown pretty quickly. This one sounds interesting because it's more about quality than quantity, so maybe. Maybe.

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  3. When I gave up on sweets and excessive sugar-munching (yes, that's a word), I turned blue and got all grumpy, so you know I know what you're talking about.

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  4. The term 'hangry' was coined for a reason! :) I often have to apologize for how fussy and irritable I get when I'm hungry, so you're not alone. And I have so much more self control with food, it seems, when I'm at home, surrounded by full cabinets and the fridge, than when I'm at work. How does that happen? I'm impressed by your dedication and overall eating habits! I would give up all foods first before I ever gave up bread and cheese, though. You are a saint. xo

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  5. Good for you for doing this, Rooth. I should have done something like since after Christmas...alas, my self-control seem to have gone the drain this year. You're doing well. The change in mood is so normal. Around here, it's almost weird if I'm not irrational:D

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  6. Oh my gosh. Props to you for changing it up and being a healthier you. Dang, I don't know if I could do this.

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  7. I have to ask, does "disposed of properly" = eaten??? I hope so. The bacon and eggs sound good! I might be able to have eggs tonight.

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  8. Looking forward to the outcome of your cleanse. I got rid of sugar and carbs which helped me lose the post pregnancy fat. Though I started taking slightly more carbs again due to intense cardio. I understand the temptation, whenever I am at my husband's family home in France, the melt in your mouth brioche for breakfasts and endless supply of baguette is annoyingly tempting. I admire you for your discipline.

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  9. oh, tell me about it. every time I try to cut out sugar I turn into an absolute bitch. never tried to cut out carbs. I think I might turn murderous :)

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  10. You go girl Rooth! Keep up and maintain this cleanse c:
    I once had a paleo diet where you only allowed to eat
    veg/fruit or protein. That means no carb, dairy sugar too.
    And it was HARD. But rewarding, body felt a lot better
    after a week c; Xx

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  11. Well done you. I've been eating a bit better this year but that's not actually hard as my diet was never healthy at all! but you know, little steps and all that!

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  12. yay for a vegan diet! but no carbs is really hard. I tried that once too and I lasted a week! great job!

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  13. I would love to do some kind of cleanse but every time I go to do it, I fall spectacularly off the wagon. I typically don't eat sugar so that's never a problem for me but getting rid of carbs? In a house where Jordan thinks a loaf of bread is a snack? Never gonna happen. I bow down Ruth!

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  14. This really sounds like the jump start I need this spring! I think I'm going to give being conscious about what I eat a try!

    7% Solution

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  15. Wow, sounds like a great cleanse! I really need to do something like this...though no carbs would definitely be difficult!

    http://ourruins.com

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  16. good for you.. i am so not the going on a cleanse type person.. we fast for a whole month in ramadan.. i take that as my version of a cleanse

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  17. right now i am spring cleaning my house, next i would like to 'spring clean' my body. i just need to investigate the best way to go about it for my body type. i definitely don't want a starve myself cleanse - just an cleanse that promotes wellness. yours sounds pretty good. and good luck! sugar is my weakness. xo

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  18. I can totally understand hunger or food cravings causing anger. Good for you for not forgetting about your body during spring cleaning!!

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  19. Wow, that sounds tough! I am planning on going on a fast as soon as I get up the courage and probably will take a vacation at the same time. I can't imagine going to work and being angry all day, but I assume this would be how I felt as well. How long will this last for you?

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  20. This is why I can't cut bread out of my diet, no one would want to be around me.

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